Escape Students Visit "The Answer" Studio in Tokyo

Escape Studios' animators visit The Answer Studio

Many thanks to our hosts at The Answer Studio in Tokyo who welcomed a small group of Escape Studios' animation students to visit their animation studio in Tokyo last week. 

The Answer Studio is the successor studio to Walt Disney Animation Japan, headed by former Disney Japan president Motoyoshi Tokunaga.

Taku Kishimoto and The Art of Writing for Anime

Taku Kishimoto and the Art of Writing for Anime

Last week in Tokyo our animation students were introduced to The Art of Writing for Anime by writer Taku Kishimoto.

What is the job of a writer for anime and manga? Japanese screenwriters write original stories, working with the director and producer to come up with new material for TV and movies.  

Anime stories have a certain structure; successful writers for anime learn to follow this structure, but at the same time they must find originality and invention within this framework.

Kazuyoshi Takeuchi and The Art of Character Design

Character Designer Kazuyoshi Takeuchi

This past week in Tokyo Japanese animator and character designer Kazuyoshi Takeuchi introduced the art of Japanese character design to our animation students, who have been studying in Tokyo, learning about manga, anime and Japanese animation techniques. 

Kazuyoshi Takeuchi has over 75 animation credits to his name, including the legendary "Akira", which was the foundational moment of his career.  He described it as "a great honour" to work with Akira director Katsuhiro Otomo. 

Hikaru Yajima Introduces The Art of Manga

Manga artist Hikaru Yajima and Baton no Hoshi

This week in Tokyo professional manga artist Hikaru Yajima introduced the art of manga to our animation students, who have been studying at Digital Hollywood University in Tokyo.

Manga forms much of the source material for Japanese anime, part of what gives Japanese animation its unique character and flavour.

In this interactive workshop our students had the opportunity to draw their own manga panels, with a theme set by Hikaru Yajima.

Shirotomo Aizawa: Japanese Art, History & Culture

Shirotomo Aizawa on Japanese Art

Today in Tokyo the composer and multimedia creator Shirotomo Aizawa introduced our animation students (who are currently studying anime and manga in Tokyo) to Japanese history, art and culture.  

Shirotomo Aizawa explained that Japanese culture was historically influenced by China, but grew and developed to have its own unique cultural identity. 

The origins of manga and anime can be found in Japan's unique cultural history and identity. 

Keisuke Mori and The Art of Acting for Anime

Japanese anime voice actor Keisuke Mori 

Japanese anime voice actor Keisuke Mori talked to our animation students in Tokyo this morning about his career performing voice overs for Japanese anime.   His credits include the 2018 movie Mirai.

Voice actors have to have to be able to perform a wide range of voices in order to do multiple characters. Vocal range is the key, the ability to perform in multiple different voices and styles.

Keisuke Mori explained that his voice is an instrument, one that he has learned to play over many years of practice working in anime. 

Mitsunori Murata, "Akira" and Japanese Animation

Mitsunori Murata 

Today in Tokyo Escape Studios' animators learned from master animator Mitsunori Murata about the process of making animated films in Japan. 

Mitsunori Murata has worked on over 50 Japanese animation films including the legendary "Akira", released in 1988, and Ghost in The Shell. 

How are animated films made in Japan? The answer is that the process is fundamentally very similar to how things are done in the west, but with some unique Japanese features. 

Amedeo Beretta, Capcom & "EscapeVerse Japan"

Amedeo Beretta will visit us from Capcom in Osaka 

We're delighted to welcome former Escape Studios' animation tutor Amedeo Beretta, who will join us in Tokyo at Digital Hollywood University on Tuesday 8th September for a talk about his experience living and working at Capcom in Osaka, Japan. 

Escape Studios Goes to Tokyo

Escape Studios' Animation Students are Heading to Tokyo

This Saturday September 5th twenty one Escape Studios' animation students are heading to Tokyo, to learn more about manga, anime and Japanese animation techniques. 

Our animation students will be attending classes and workshops in Manga and Anime at Digital Hollywood University in central Tokyo.  We're delighted to be able to organise this unique experience for our students. 

Tokyo Study Week for Escape Animation Students

Digital Hollywood University September 7-11 2026

Escape Studios is delighted to announce our first "Tokyo Study Week" for our animation students - an opportunity to study for five days at Digital Hollywood University in Tokyo.  

The Tokyo Study Week will run from Monday 7 September to Friday 11 September 2026 and is a chance to learn Japanese animation techniques, with a focus on the unique Japanese visual styles of anime and manga.  Classes will take place every morning, with afternoons left free for students to explore Tokyo and potentially visit animation sites such as the Studio Ghibli Museum and Studio Ghibli Park.